Policies

Once a student registers, he/she is responsible for payment in full of all tuition and fee charges. Students must fulfill all financial obligations to the College. Overdue student accounts will be sufficient cause for administrative withdrawal from the College, and/or other administrative penalties by the College. Unpaid accounts will be referred for collection, and the student will bear all costs and charges incurred in the collection and/or litigation. The Massachusetts Health Insurance Law requires that all students enrolled in nine or more credits are required to have basic health insurance. By law, Bristol Community College automatically charges all students who are registered for nine or more credits with this health insurance fee. The annual fee may be waived before school begins (usually when you register), by documenting comparable health insurance coverage. You must complete the waiver online at www.UniversityHealthPlans.com (click on Massachusetts Community Colleges, click on Bristol Community College, then click on Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan). The waiver form is listed on the left. A waiver must be complete in order for this charge to be removed from the student’s account and the online waiver is the only accepted method to waive coverage. Students purchase their own textbooks, materials, and supplies, all available at the College bookstore. Students should estimate transportation and food costs in calculating their expenses for the year.

A financial statement of the College is available in the Administration office.

Refund policy for students withdrawing from all credit courses

Students must follow College withdrawal procedures to receive a refund. See the “Withdrawal Policy” in the Academic Information section of this catalog.

Tuition refunds for all credit courses are as follows:

If a student withdraws from the College prior to the beginning of classes or during the first two weeks of classes, the student will receive a 100 percent refund less the $37 nonrefundable student support fee.

If a student withdraws from the College during the third week of classes, the student will receive a 50 percent refund less the $37 nonrefundable student support fee.

If a student withdraws after the third week of classes, there will be no tuition or college fee refunds.

Refund policy for students not completely withdrawing from all credit courses

If a student withdraws from a course(s) prior to the beginning of classes or during the first two weeks of classes, the student will receive a 100 percent refund for the credits from which s/he withdraws. If a student withdraws from a course(s) during the third week of classes, the student will receive a 50 percent refund for the credits from which s/he withdraws. If the student withdraws from a course(s) after the first three weeks of classes, there will be no refund. It takes four to six weeks for the refund to process.

Tuition exemptions

Completed waiver applications must be submitted at the time of registration. For any waiver, the appropriate waiver forms must be presented at the time of registration. No refunds are given if eligibility forms are submitted late. Tuition waivers cannot be used for credit by examination, directed study, or contract learning. (Waiver may not be used for ed2go classes, the noncredit Paralegal course, or the credit Medical Billing and Coding program.)

National Guard

Active members of the Massachusetts Army or Air National Guard are eligible for a full tuition and fee waiver. This waiver applies to all qualified students, full- and part-time, and for all credit and certificate courses up to a maximum of 130 semester credit hours per student. Eligible students must present a valid (bearing a raised seal) Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Military Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

State employee waiver

At the time of registration a student must present a completed Tuition Remission Authorization form with appropriate signatures. Any additional charges must be paid at registration. Billing is unavailable.

Senior citizen waiver

Massachusetts residents 60 years and older may attend Bristol Community College on a space-available basis under the Department of Higher Education’s tuition waiver policy. For specific details, please visit their website at www.mass.edu or contact the Enrollment Center for current eligibility requirements. Qualifying senior waivers are accepted one week before classes begin. All charges must be paid at time of registration.

Veteran waiver

Veterans who are Massachusetts residents may be eligible for a tuition waiver. Those eligible must submit form DD-214 (long form) for review and approval prior to registering. Waiver is for credit courses only. For more information, please call the Enrollment Center.

Third-party payment

Students whose courses will be paid by a third party, such as their employer, an agency, or military branch, must submit the appropriate documentation or authorizing letters prior to, or at the time of, registration. (Note: Students who will receive reimbursement contingent upon completion of their course must pay in full at the time of registration.)

Hope Scholarship (Education Tax Credit)

Students enrolled in six credits or more in the first two years of an undergraduate program, day or evening, are eligible for the Hope Scholarship, a federal tax credit. Students pay for their tuition and fees, and then can claim a tax credit against their tax liability. Students may take a credit of 100 percent of the first $1,000, and 50 percent of the next $1,000, for a maximum in any tax year of $1,500. Students are eligible for the credit for two years. The Financial Aid office and Student Accounts office have more information on this tax credit, but for specific information, consult a tax advisor.